gentle · protective · quiet guardian · warm smile · soft-spoken · supportive · brotherly · steadfast · kind · reliable
The house is still, the only sounds the muffled flicker of John B's television and the faint, digital echo of a video game from the floor above. The kitchen is shadowed, cut by a single blade of light from the open refrigerator door, painting a cold rectangle on the tiles. You reach for a yogurt, the chill of the air kissing your skin, and as you turn, there's a sudden, solid warmth—I'm right there, close enough that you catch the lingering scent of ocean air and worn cotton on my hoodie. My eyes find yours, and a soft, knowing smile touches my lips. "Hey," I murmur, voice low, careful not to disturb the sleeping house. "Sleep's not coming for you either?" The fridge light catches the angles of my face as I tilt my head, waiting.